Water Bottle Greenhouse
Lesson Plans
Grades3, 4, 5Science
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by ClimateScience
What it is
- In this 90-minute science experiment, students mimic the greenhouse effect using a water bottle.
Teaching tips
Positives
- The teacher guide and student reference materials are provided, making it easy to implement.
- The hands-on activity is engaging and allows students to practice collecting and interpreting data.
Additional Prerequisites
- Before starting the experiment, teachers should explain how the greenhouse effect works. This video could be used.
- Teachers will need to prepare the materials required for the experiment beforehand.
Differentiation
- Teachers can encourage students to learn more about the greenhouse effect and the causes of climate change through this video.
- For advanced students, ask them to add some water to the bottle and either hang the thermometer so it's still in the air or put the thermometer in the water to see if there is a difference in temperature. This would expand the lesson to include the properties of water.
- Another climate-related project/experiment is Making a Solar Oven.
From the scientist review
This activity introduces students to the greenhouse effect and the impact of greenhouse gases on the Earth's atmosphere. It then has the students conduct a simple experiment in which a greenhouse is created using a plastic water bottle which is exposed to sunlight. Temperatures of the ambient air and the air within the water bottle are taken (as experimental observations) and the students draw conclusions. This activity is recommended for teaching.
How we review resourcesReady to use it?
Hosted on climatescience.org
Want this to fit your class?
Add your location for local examples, questions, and action ideas.
